Grooming implements

ABSTRACT

A hair pick has smooth teeth of rounded transverse cross-section lying in a common arcuate plane, which taken together define no constrictions between themselves or with the integral back, which latter can possess one or more smooth transverse grooves so as to fit securely within a complementarily shaped carrying case.

United States Patent 1191 Tupper June 4, 1974 1 GROOMING IMPLEMENTS 988,379 4/1911 Olson 132/143 1,010,525 l2/l9ll Scott [32/101 [751 E Tupper Nassau1Bahamas- 2,646,804 7/1953 Newman 132/143 [73] Assignee: Tup! (Panama) S.A., Panama Ci 06.476 9/1957 Thompson l32/l58 Panama 2,984,248 5/l96l S1delman l32/l58 [22] Filed: July 1972 Primary Examirier-Louis G. Mancene [21] Appl. No.: 275,410 v,lss'istanr Examiner-Gregory E. McNeil] 1 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard Weiner [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Ju1 '30 1971 Great 1311111111 36075/71 [5 7] ABSTRACT [52] Cl R A hair pick has smooth teeth of rounded transverse [5H Int CL "'X 4 crosssection lying in a common arcuate plane, which [58] Field I23 143 taken together define no constrictions between them- 'gf selves or with the integral back, which latter can pos sess one or more smooth transverse grooves so as to fit [56] References Cited securely within a complementarily shaped carrying UNITED STATES PATENTS case 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 778,467- 12/1904 Tojettil ..132/1'43.

GROOMING IMPLEMENTS implement known as a hair pick.

For the avoidance of doubt,in this specification the terminology used in describing a hair comb or hair pick is as follows:

A comb or pick has a plurality of teeth protruding from and usually integral with a back portionyif placed vertically with teeth downwards and visible, its length lies in the horizontal transverse direction, its width lies in the vertically transverse direction and thickness lies in the direction of observation.

The teeth, considered individually, have length in the vertically transverse direction, width in the horizontally transverse direction'and thickness; as before, in the direction of observation.

A hair pick is a form of large comb especially suitable for combing difficult hair such as'negroid hair. Usually as with a conventional comb, the teeth of a hair pick are somewhat flattened in crosssectionwith the major axis of the flattened portion extending-along the thickness of the pick. This can lead to breakage of the teeth across the-flattened portion, which breakageis progressive since each missing tooth leaves a gap for adjacent teeth to'bend into, and to a crimpingeffect on the hair over any sharp or relatively sharp edges on the teeth.

The present invention sets out toovercome these disadvantages and in one embodiment provides a hair pick having a back and a plurality of integral teeth spaced along, andextending generally at right angles from, the backso that their longitudinal axes are mutually parallel wherein each individual tooth tapers to a blunt point, has a rounded transverse cross-section, has a smooth surface free from crimping edges, and is curved so that all teeth lie in a common arcuate plane; and wherein the teeth taken together define no constrictions between themselves and between any tooth and the integral back.

Preferably the teeth are circular in cross section.

While the pick can be of various sizes it is generally suitable for it to be of a suitable size to be held in the clenched hand, that is to say, of about the size of the palm of the hand and being for example from 2 to 4 inches long and 2 to 4 inches in width. Preferably there are from to 3 teeth per inch length pick, and the teeth themselves are from 1 inch to 3 inches in length. The pick can be arcuate over its width to facilitate the progress of the pick through the hair to be combed. The arcuate shape of the pick can be such that its centre line is the arc of acirculefrom 6 inches to 3 feet in radius.

The back portion of .the pick can be shaped to facilitate handling. In general it will be somewhat thicker than the average thickness of the teeth and may be provided with one or more smooth grooves extending along the pick.

A further aspect of the invention is a pick as described above in combination with a carrying case, preferably of a suitably arcuate shape, into which the pick can be slid. It will be appreciated that since the pick has pointed ends on the teeth, if it is carried teeth downwards in the pocket or handbag it will penetrate the pocket or handbag, and if it is carried teeth upwards it will be dangerous to the user. In a particularly advantageous embodiment part of the back of the pick is somewhat thicker than the teeth and fits into a corresponding enlargement of the case so that the pick is securely held.

The invention will be further described with reference tothe accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a general view of a pick according to the invention and FIG; 2 is a cross sectional view of the pick as shown in FIG. 1 along theline A-A with a suitable case enclosing the teeth.

A pick as shown in FIG. 1 consists of a back portion 1 with teeth 2 approximately inch apart and being approximately 5 4 inch in average diameter with a circular cross-section tapering to a relatively blunt point 3.

It will be apparentfrom FIG. 2 that the pick is arcuate in cross section and the radius of the curved mid-line of the cross sectional view is approximately 12 inches in the embodiment shown. It will be apparentfrom this cross section that the back portion 1 is providedwith shallow grooves 4 which facilitate handling of the pick. Moreover, FIG. 2 shows a suitable carrying case 5 of synthetic plastic material in which the pick can be insertedand-in which it is firmly held by virtue of the enlargement 6 witha suitable portion of the back portion of the pick, as defined by the groove 4.

In use, the pick is not normally moved vertically through the hair but is used with the concave side uppermostand gently teased through the hair to bring the hair into the desired state of tidiness. The smooth teeth and their rounded configuration ensure that the hair is not pulled over any crimping-edge or through any narrowspacing between the teeth but is gently laid into the desired place.

Various modifications may be made in the invention as shown in the specific embodiment.

'What isclaimed is:

l. A hair grooming device comprising (1) a hair pick having a back and a plurality of parallel teeth each tapering to a blunt point and formed integrally with said back and extending generally at right angles therefrom,

a. said back being thicker than the average tooth thickness and having at least one smooth groove extending longitudinally throughout the length of said pick,

b. each individual tooth having a substantially circular cross-section, having a smooth surface free from crimping edges, and being curved so that all the said teeth lie in a common arcuate plane,

c. all the teeth taken together defining smooth unconstricted regions between themselves and between any tooth and the integral back; in combination with,

2 an arcuate case for carrying said hair pick, said case being inwardly deformed at an upper portion thereof to conform with the shapeof said smooth groove so as to hold said pick securely.

2. A hair pick as claimed in claim 1 from Zto 4 inches wide and from 2 to 4 inches long, having from 1 /2 to teeth per inch of length and having teeth from I to 3 inches in length. 1

3. A hair pick comprising a back and a plurality of parallel teeth each tapering to a blunt point and formed integrally with said back and extending generally at right angles therefrom, said'back being thicker than the average tooth thickness and having at least one smooth groove extending longitudinally throughout the length of said pick, each individual tooth havinga substantially circular cross-section, having a smooth surface free from crimping edges, and being curved so that all the said teeth lie in a common arcuate plane, all the teeth taken together defining smooth unconstricted regions between themselves and between any tooth and the integral back. inches 

1. A hair grooming device comprising (1) a hair pick having a back and a plurality of parallel teeth each tapering to a blunt point and formed integrally with said back and extending generally at right angles therefrom, a. said back being thicker than the average tooth thickness and having at least one smooth groove extending longitudinally throughout the length of said pick, b. each individual tooth having a substantially circular crosssection, having a smooth surface free from crimping edges, and being curved so that all the said teeth lie in a common arcuate plane, c. all the teeth taken together defining smooth unconstricted regions between themselves and between any tooth and the integral back; in combination with, 2 an arcuate case for carrying said hair pick, said case being inwardly deformed at an upper portion thereof to conform with the shape of said smooth groove so as to hold said pick securely.
 2. A hair pick as claimed in claim 1 from 2 to 4 inches wide and from 2 to 4 inches long, having from 1 1/2 to 3 teeth per inch of length and having teeth from 1 to 3 inches in length.
 3. A hair pick comprising a back and a plurality of parallel teeth each tapering to a blunt point and formed integrally with said back and extending generally at right angles therefrom, said back being thicker than the average tooth thickness and having at least one smooth groove extending longitudinally throughout the length of said pick, each individual tooth having a substantially circular cross-section, having a smooth surface free from crimping edges, and being curved so that all the said teeth lie in a common arcuate plane, all the teeth taken together defining smooth unconstricted regions between themselves and between any tooth and the integral back. inches 